(Omaha) — Bankers in a good portion of KMAland want relief from tariffs in order to help area farmers.
As part of Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Survey this month, bank CEOs in a 10-state region–including Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri–were asked to name the top federal action needed to drive farm and ranch income higher. Creighton University Economics Professor Dr. Ernie Goss tells KMA News nearly 42% of the respondents named lowering global tariffs as the number-one answer. Despite an increase in regional exports of agricultural goods, Goss says tariffs are still hurting trade with foreign counties.
“When we look at what we’re selling with agricultural goods and livestock in China, it’s still down about 68% as compared to the same period in 2024,” said Goss. “We’ve improved over 2025 numbers, but again, when you compare it with 2024, we’ve still got a long way to go, particularly on soybean and pork–pork would be a number-two product there.”
Goss says more than 26% named passage of a five-year farm bill as the number-two answer. Like members of Iowa’s congressional delegation, he says farmers and bankers are frustrated with Congress’ inability to pass an expanded farm bill.
“This has been going on for a couple of years now,” he said, “trying to get a five-year farm bill instead of these one-year bills. Farmers are facing so much volatility out there. There’s no reason, in my judgment, for farmers having to deal with a one-year plan instead of a five-year plan.”
Roughly 16% identified another federal bridge assistance program as the number-three answer, while 15.8% identified approve the use of year-round E-15 as fourth. Goss made his comments in a recent interview on KMA’s “Morning Line” program.
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